Froggy Comes to Town.

Ma foi! M'sieu—I have seen zis town you call "Wellington." It is truly—une belle ville! There are some things though, M'sieu, which have puzzle me not a little. When first I arrive here from la belle France I walk through ze streets, I admire ze largeness of ze buildings point out to me—truly magnifique for so young a country! I admire also zez complexsions of ze young ladies—quelle belle couleur! In France, my friend, such things are manage very differently malheureusement! Also the largeness of les gendarmes—the poleecemen!—amagze me—it fill me with terror to be pursued by so large a man. I will take great care. M'sieu, not to come within reach of so long an arm of the law. But I must hurry to tell you one thing of most importance, By and by my eye—he is attracted by beautiful sight—on ze footpath in ze street. Ha !—at last I have him—without a doubt it ees ze Art Gallery. Yes, M'sieu! I am amazed at so grand a sight placed where all, rich and poor alike, may see. Truly this New Zealand is wonderful country; it lead the world I think you say. Ma foi! M' sieu, I think you right this time. But let me tell you first of all what do I behold—figure of English Admiral holding glass of wine—no! pardon!—ze whisky of M' sieu Dawson. What a grand sight, I take off my hat in my so great excitement, shout "Vive I' Angleterre!" "Vive la France!" "Vive I' entente cordiale!" Three ringing cheer, "'ip, 'ip, 'u-ray!" But I must not stop. There is much to be seen so I go on and behold next—Egypt and ze Pyramide. Ah! What a behold next—Egypt and ze Pyramide. Ah! What a splendid sight. But what is zis? Transformation horrible to behold! In place of "le Sphinx" I see head of monstrous boule dogue. Ha! I understand, it is England again—ze ale of M 'sieu Bass! Ze ale and ze ros' bif'—is it not so M 'sieu, that make England so great: Quelle belle lecon for ze young New Zealand! Then I see horrible struggle between snake and native of India. It is terrible! But there is worse! It is a man who cling for help to ze friendly lamp post, while before him Is ze dreaded Cobra of South America! Great Snakes! I should tink so. I shout to him to shin up ze post queeck! And page 32 wait for le gendarme, but he do not hear me, so great is his terror! But I will continue, kind sir, unless you are already ennui of me? You say No! You are very good then! Next I fix my eye on splendid pink lady who hold box of pills! Quelle couleur de rose! I take off my hat and bow must profoundly to so beautiful a sight. Truly it is grand zis Art Gallery in ze street! I should tink it encourage ze young New Zealander to be gr-r-eat artist! You say No! Ma foi! M 'sieu, I tell you it delight Me at least. I will return to view it again later when I have ze leisure—aftaire dinner! In returning to my hotel, however, I am stopped by one who ask me, "'ave I ze match?" I say, "Oui, M 'sieu, certainly I have ze match." Well, then he say, this man to me, "Lend me one, please!" But I say "No, I do not know you, I cannot lend to stranger." Then he get angry, use bad word to me, what you call bad French, eh! Ah! ze poor French, blame for everything bad—not praised at all for ze good, as when our M. Soyer make ze paper bags—zat is all forgotten in ze terrible moment of anger! But what is this, you say he expect me to gif him ze match. Eh! Bien! Why he not say so, then. It seems to me a very strange custom, zis lending and not paying back. I must introduce him in la belle France as good old New Zealand custom. Ha! Ha! It is tres bon! Allow me, then, to thank you, M 'sieu, for your so attentive hearing to my so tedious remarks. I assure you zat I shall never forget ze Art Gallery of Wellington, place in so conspicuous a position, and also mon cher ami, I tell everyone about those complexious so wonderful which grow only in this Wellington, for truly M 'sieu, I have travelled, but never before have I seen such splendid sight. C'est magnifique! Vraiment!

—P.M.F.